NATIONAL VIDEO

This week: Runners from Gainesville, West Hall and Chestatee headed to USATF Junior Olympics

West Hall and Chestatee runners Ryan Sharry and Jason Dang will participate in the USATF National Junior Olympic Track and Field Championships beginning today at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Md.

Both are members of the Lanier Lightning Running club and will run in the 2k steeplechase for the women and men, respectively.

Rising juniors Sara Hayes and Marcquel Woodard of Gainesville High will also take part in the event. At the regional meet recently, Hayes brought home a silver medal, finishing second in the heptathalon, and Woodard finished third in the 800 meter with a personal record of 1 minute, 57.02 seconds.

Also from the club, Savannah Carnahan, of South Forsyth High, will run in the intermediate girls 2k steepleshcase and the 3000-meter run.

The steeplechase races are on Thursday, and the 3000-meter is on Friday. Sharry placed second at the regional meet to advance to nationals, while Dang finished in fifth to qualify.

ATLANTA FALCONS: The Falcons will open training camp on Thursday at the team facilities in Flowery Branch.

Thursday will be the first of 33 sessions. Saturday and Sunday are designated days for Falcons Youth Weekend, during which children ages 17 and under will have the opportunity to obtain cheerleader autographs and enter contests to win prizes.

All morning walk-through sessions are closed to the public, but afternoon practices, which begin at 3:30 p.m., are open. In the event of inclement weather, practices will be moved indoors and closed to the public.

THE OLYMPICS: The Opening Ceremony for the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England, will take place on Friday, followed by the first events on Saturday. Those events include weightlifting, cycling, swimming, shooting, judo, fencing and archery. The Olympics will run through Aug. 12.

ATLANTA BRAVES: After splitting a four-game series with the division-leading Washington Nationals over the weekend, the Braves will travel to Miami to take on the Marlins in a three-game series. The first game will be played at 7 tonight, with lefty Mike Minor scheduled to face Josh Johnson on the hill.

The Braves will finish the week with a home series against the Philadelphia Phillies.